Steering rack lubrication

[pacotaco]

I am mounting the steering rack back onto the frame on the '67 TR4A IRS and checked the shop manual for info on what lubricant to put into the steer box. Shop manual says multi-purpose grease but it has a brass fill bolt as if it should use a pour in lubricant (gear oil?). It is empty now and I don't remember if I emptied it or it was already emptied when I got the car.

 

[Andrew Mace]

Those brass bolts apparently were cheaper than equipping the rack with a Zerk fitting. Undo the bolt, insert a proper Zerk, and grease as recommended in the Manual.

 

[pacotaco]

Thanks Andrew

 

[TR3driver]

Isn't there a ground wire that is supposed to go under that bolt head?

 

[pacotaco]

Yep I think you're right. I just was looking at my beat-up frayed ground lead. I will have to replace it as one end is missing. I guess there is no reason why I can't put it under the grease fitting though???

 

[TR3driver]

Yep I think you're right. I just was looking at my beat-up frayed ground lead. I will have to replace it as one end is missing. I guess there is no reason why I can't put it under the grease fitting though???

Might be a little tricky, as the grease fitting uses tapered threads (specially designed to mate with the straight threads in the rack). You might get a leak if the fitting pulls down against the ground lead instead of the threads, or the ground might not be secure (leading to erratic horn operation) if the fitting pulls down against the threads instead of the ground lead. But that would be the only concern, I think. Should be OK if you can strike a happy medium.

 

[pacotaco]

Yes I just found out about the tapered threads. The fitting did not go far before it tightened up and I was afraid I would destroy the threads or get metal shavings in the steer box so I filled up the box with grease by lightly screwing on the grease fitting then replaced it with the original fitting. And yes I don't think I would have been able to get a good ground without multiple washers. Now I have to order a new mounting plate that the previous owner did not put back on one side but tommorrow I think I will borrow the neighbors engine hoist and drop my motor/transmission back on the frame. Yeah!